Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-22
AN EXECUTION In JAPAN.
The ExecutiODer's Wonderful Skill with the
Sword.


GenlleInan Magazine.
AS each man stepped from the path on
TO the plateau his eyes were firmly band
aged white paper, the only act of
mercy [ saw vouchsafed that morning.
Finally they were ranged in line, the two
cripples huddled on the ground, their
poor heads as they dropped from shoulder
to shoulder being roughly buffeted to a
proper angle by the policemen in charge.
This accomplished amid silence so alb
solute that We could almost hear our
hearts beat, the great man or the camp
stool rose, and unfolding a large docu.
ment, read In loud voice what we sup
posed to be description of the crimes
for which the poor fellows were to suffer
and the process of condemnation and
sentence. This was very long business,
and before it was nearly finished the
native spectators were laughing and jok-
ing upon the appearance of the doomed
men, with that callousness to human suf-
fering which so much blackens the other
wise amiable and pleasing character of
these japanese people. At last 1t was
finished. AS there were but five holes
for seven prisoners, two would be obliged
to remain In blind agony while their
companions were being dispatched. Five
men were accordingly thrust forward
with the slaves and fists of the police;
each man was made to SQUAT on a
mound, his clothes-if filthy, tattered
rags could be called clothes-stripp
from his shoulders, his hands tied behind
his back, and his head pushed forward
over the hole. Our feelings at this awful
moment cap better be imagined than
described, but [ think we felt quite as
much pity for the two poor wretches left
alone to listen to what was going on with
out that artificial aid of fortitude which
the sight of crowd sometimes gives, as
for their companions on their death seats.
Undoubtedly execution by the trenchant
Japanese sword is as merciful death as
can be desired; but the oriental nature,
as if to compensate for their erring on
the side of mercy, counterbalances it by
an undue prolong alton of the prepare
tions for death, which is worse than
hundred deaths. So in this case. AS
the poor fellows knelt over their holes
the executioner slowly and deliberately
took off his coat anG barred his arms.
Then he took from its silk casing the
fatal sword, examined it fondly and
lingeringly from the Yosuri me, or filings
on the hilt to keep the grasp from slip
ping, along the Kirimon, or groove in the
blade, to the point, held it over a pail
while coolie trickled water down it, and
with great deal of setting of his feet,
was ready. / felt sick and giddy, but /
kept my eyes fixed on the sceRe. At
sign from the official On the camp stool,
the executioner raised his sword slightly,
hardly half dozen inches, and almost
before I could realize it the mans head
was hanging over the hole by single
ligament, and the blood was gushing
forth in torrents. I then saw why the
executioner had not completely severed
the head; and the wonderful skill OF the
Japanese swordsmen, using as they do
the most perfect weapons in the world,
can be imagined in so arranging the
force of the blow that absolute decapita-
tons does not take place. He tore the
head off and held it towards the four
sides of the square; then he gave it to
coolie, who roughly plastered the severed
portion with clay and stuck it on a kind
of elevated shelf. In the meanwhile two
coolies were thum ping on the back of the
PROSTATE body to hasten the rush of
blood, after which one of the coarse mats
was thrown over it and it was laid aside.
I had seen enough, and turned my head
blade with paper, approached the second
poor wretch, who was shouting out some
thing at the top of his voice, whether
confession or a denunciation of in Justice
/ was not scholar enough to understand.